spørgende

Spørgende is a Danish present participle of the verb spørge, meaning to ask. It is used as an adjective to denote something that involves asking or expresses a tendency to inquire. Commonly it describes people, questions, or approaches characterized by questioning, for example spørgende elever (students who ask questions) or en spørgende tilgang (an inquisitive approach).

Formation and usage: The form is created by adding the suffix -ende to the verb stem, following standard Danish participle formation. As an adjective it can modify singular or plural nouns and is used both attributively and predicatively in sentences. In attributive position it often appears directly before the noun, as in en spørgende elev, while in predicative use it can appear after a copula, as in Svarene var ikke spontane, men spørgende (the questions were not spontaneous, but asking/inquisitive in nature).

Nuances and scope: Spørgende conveys ongoing or characteristic action rather than a completed action. It is most natural in contexts dealing with inquiry, investigation, education, or analysis. It is not a synonym for a single question; rather, it describes the broader quality of asking or interrogating.

Etymology and related terms: Spørgende derives from spørge (to ask) with the -ende participle suffix. Related terms include spørgeformen and the noun spørgsmål (question), as well as the related verb spørge itself. The word sits within Danish expressions about inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.